Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers before stepping down from the White House in 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson

A tech journalist and AI researcher passionate about demystifying emerging technologies and their impact on society.